Waynesboro | Discussion of 13th Street roundabout resurrected; funding possible in 2027

The discussion regarding a roundabout planned at the intersection of 13th Street and Rosser Avenue in Waynesboro has been quiet for some time, but the idea will be resurrected at a City Council meeting on Monday night.

Funding for the proposed roundabout near Riverview Cemetery could finally come  nearly 10 years later, if the Virginia Department of Transportation agrees to help fund the project, which has doubled in cost since it was first discussed.

The traffic signal at the busy intersection was removed in 2017 due to the failure of a pole supporting the wiring. While the city explored its options, a two-way stop was installed temporarily at the busy intersection. Due to the traffic counts, the city began to explore permanent solutions including replacing the traffic light or installing a roundabout.

The city determined that it would cost more to replace the traffic stoplight than to convert the intersection to a roundabout. It’s worth noting that the difference at the time was only $5,000 between the two options. Original estimates for the roundabout came in at $420,000; a traffic light would have come in at $425,000.

ICYMI

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According to a staff briefing prepared in advance of Monday night’s City Council meeting, the total project cost eight years later has more than doubled for the roundabout, at $918,870.

A previous state Smart Scale grant was awarded to the city for the roundabout for $578,937, but a $339,933 shortfall remains.

Staff is asking for City Council’s approval of a resolution to apply for a revenue-sharing program with VDOT splitting the remaining costs 50/50.

If the roundabout funding is approved by VDOT, the city would still need to kick in its half – approximately $170,000 for the project.

The application window for the VDOT funding closes on Sept. 15. If the application is approved, funding would be available in fiscal year 2027.